Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-18
TIE GOLDEN RULE.

How 1t is applicable to Everyday Life.
FORT WORTH, Ten, Feb. l5 1857.
To the Editor of the Gazette:
"What do not wish men TO do unto
me, also wish not to do to men"
These short and simple words were ut,
tered by the good and wise Confucius
twenty-three centuries ago. The idea was
reiterated by Jesus Christ some 400 years
later, and through all previous or sue
ceeding ages no nObler sentiment ever
guided human action. 1t is the very es-
sence of Justice and the foundation of al
true religion.
Ga one occasion disciple Of the illus
trious Chinaman, wishing to get his re-
ligion in small, convenient paCkage-ir
nutshell, so to spaak-asked: as there
not some single word that would serve as
rule of practice for all ones life?"
Confucius replied: "Is not reciprocity
that word? What you do not want done
to yourself do not unto others"
What q different sort of world this
would be, if this single word reciprocity
was pasted in every mans hat, and made
his rule of action towards his fellow men
Capital would not then seek to en~lave
means to ameli0rate the condition of its
toilers. Neither would the lsbOrer try to
give the very least amount of time and
toll to his employer, as Is now too often
the case. A few days ago | had an inter
esting conversation upon this subject
with an educated, Intelligent labOrlng
man (and Knight of Labor, by the way },
who is at work in the car shops of one of
the railroads of this state. Said he
"When l see how little regard many Of
our laboring men have for their duty
towards their employers, l can
not much blame capitalists for re-
fuslDg to recognize our labor organiZa-
tiOns. l am G knight of Labor myself,
and have the highest respect for our Or
der, and know that its aims and purposes
are good. Yet l am sorry to have to
admit that we have many members who
fail to realize their honest duty to their
employers. They are TOO prone to re-
gard employer and employe as in antago-
nistiC attitudes towards one another.
They seem to think it not only justitiable
but their duty to do ust as little work as
they possibly can to retain their Jobs and
draw their pay. They will watch the
foreman like hungry hawk or preacher
watching a fat pullet, AMI when they
know he is not looking they will
scarcely do as much work in an
hour as they should do in
twenty minutes. When am at work,
whether for an individual or a corpora
ton, l never think about the presence of
the boss had just as lief have him
around every minute in the cay as not. l
draw pay for ten hours work, and | Ell
deavor to give full value for the same.
Sometimes one Of these shirBs says to
me: Look here, you are putting in too
much work. Remember, you are not
working for an individual, but soulless
corporation, and nobody expects you to
kill yourself for it, I don't expect to
kill myself either, at least not by over
work, but do expect to give the COM
pany an honest days labor every day l
am in their employ; just as should tx
pect man to do for me if l had him
hired by the day. l care nothing for the
good or bad opinions of these shirks any
way. l only do my duty towards the rail
road company that employs me, and eX-
pect it to do the same by me. The COM
pany has always done this, and even
more; for on several occasions it has
given me either free pass or half fare
ticket over its road when | waited to lay
off and take few days recreation.
"DICK MAYOR"